Container-engaging end for powder dispensers



March 18, 1969 J. WOROBLE CONTAINER-ENGAGING END FOR POWDER DISPENSERS Sheet l of 2 Filed March 14, 1967 INVENTOR. JOSEPH WOROBLE BY ATTORNEY March 18, 1969 J. WOROBLE 3,433,390

CONTAINERENGAGING END FOR POWDER DISPENSERS Filed March 14, 1967 Sheet .2. of 2 m VENTOR. JOSEPH WOROBLE QKW AT TORNE V United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention deals with an end for powder dispensers which is attached to containers made of sheet material and containing powdered soap, hand-cleaning powder, or the like. This end, which is the portion of the dispenser to be partly inserted into the container wall or top, has a hollow tubular neck on the inside of which, oppositely attached, are the piercing prong and the cutting wheel used for piercing into and cutting a hole into the sheet container wall or top. One novel feature involves a thread on the outside of the neck, which rides in the hole thus made, and which securely engages the end onto the container. Another feature is a shoulder abutting the carton adjacent the hole which tends to lock the base onto the container surface. Other features include a raised entry plate which allows a more rapid discharge of powder from the container into the dispenser, a combination of a piercing pin and a circle cutting wheel for making the hole in the contaainer, and a wall-mounting bracket for the dispenser end.

Background of the invention This invention relates to powder dispensers which are attachable to cardboard or thin metal containers of powdered soap, and the like, by inserting a portion of the base into the side or top of the container, and anchoring the dispenser at the pierced hole made in the container. The invention is directed to the dispenser end attachable to the body of the dispenser, which dispenser generally holds a measured portion of the powder to be dispensed.

In the past, such aforesaid dispensers employed an end having piercing spears, as shown in the Woroble Patent 3,080,095, which were pressed into the container wall to form the hole for feeding powder into the dispenser. The entire dispenser was held onto the container by means of rubber bands. Later, the base of the dispenser was provided with barbed prongs, as in the Woroble Patent 3,168,966, which prongs were anchored onto the cardboard wall of the container to eliminate use of rubber bands. Such piercing spears and barbed prongs have presented hazards in the household, and there has been need for a strong, non-wobbly, and effective way for attaching the base to the carton. There also has been a demand for increasing the rate of flow of powder from the carton and into the dispenser, as well as for wall mounting means which would avoid spillage while replacing the carton.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention, a very strong and tight engagement of the dispenser end with the container is eflFected by providing the base of the end with a hollow tubular neck, the outside of which is provoided with a thread. An axially-tapered thread is desirable for cardboard containers, while a straight thread is needed for sheet metal containers. A series of radial ridges on the base shoulder surface adjacent the container wall serves to lock the base in position. Attached to the inner wall of said neck, are a piercing prong and an oppositelydisposed rotatable circle-cutting wheel which serve to cut the hole into which the neck is inserted and is screwed in. A spaced slotted plate is provided within the base, over which the dispenser body is disposed, and such spacing increases the pouring volume of powder flow from the carton, so that the dispenser i-s filled within a very short time. A novel type of wall-mounting bracket is provided to enable replacement of the carton or can of powder without danger of spilling same.

Brief description of the drawing The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 presents a side view of the dispenser end of the present invention as the prong has pierced the container wall and the end is ready to be rotated for making the hole therein, and as it is attached to the lower portion of a dispenser body;

FIGURE 2 depicts a cross-sectional side view taken along the plane of line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the same base taken along the plane of line 33 in FIGURE 1, after it has been screwed into the hole of the container wall, and is ready for use;

FIGURE 4 shows a bottom view of the base depicted in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 shows a side view of a dispenser end of the present invention, as attached to a small dispensing unit, both of which are afiixed to the metal cap of a jar, all of which are mounted on a wall bracket, in condition for use; and

FIGURE 6 illustrates the unit shown in FIGURE 5, swiveled into upside-down condition, for replacement of the carton or powder container.

FIGURE 7 depicts a top View of a portion of the wall mounting taken along the plane of line 77 in FIG- URE 6.

The same numerals refer to similar parts in the various figures.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring again to the drawing, and specifically to FIGS. 14, numeral 10 represents generally the end, as attached to the dispenser body, the latter being represented generally by numeral 11. The end 10 consists of a generally cylindrical hollow base portion 12, into which is fitted, and preferably cemented or otherwise attached, a hollow generally cylindrical shell body 13 of the dispenser. A narrower hollow, generally cylindrical neck 14 projects downwardly from base .10, leaving a flat shoulder 15, which latter may be provide-d with radial ridges 16. The outer surface of neck 14 is provided with an axially-tapered thread 18. In other words, the thread at the upper portion 14' of neck 14 has a larger outside diameter than the thread on the lower portion 14 of the neck. It is desired to have a straight short unthreaded lower end 19 for the neck, so as to make it easier to insert the neck into hole 20 of the cardboard wall 21 of a container. It is also desirable to provide a bevel 22 at the juncture of the thread 18 with shoulder 15. This bevel of about 45 serves to prevent the cut cardboard edge from being pulled outwardly of the carton and it thus insures a better seal. The outer cylindrical surface 12 of base 12 also may be corrugated so as to provide a better hand grip.

Attached to the inside surface of neck 14 is axiallyprojecting piercing prong 17 which projects beyond edge 48 of neck 14, and which is jabbed into cardboard wall 21 to form hole 20. Oppositely disposed to said prong, and also mounted on the inside of surface of neck 14, is perforating wheel 23, which is designed to rotate around its mounting pivot 24. Wheel 23 is preferably made of metal and is provided with sharp long teeth 24'. These 3 teeth project beyond the edge 48' of neck 14 and they serve to pierce the cardboard 21 and to form a circular perforation as base is rotated about prong 17 as a pivot.

A plate 25 is mounted in base 10 over the inside surface of shoulder 15. This plate has oppositely-disposed wing-shaped flow openings 26 and 27, each extending over about 45 to about 60, on each side of anchor hole 23, which latter is used as a pivot point for control post 29 of the dispenser. It will be noted that plate is thicker at the portion 25' over shoulder 15', so that, when this portion is cut out to provide outlets 2.6 and 27, more space 30 is provided to enable ready flow of powder from the container (wall 21 of which is shown) and neck 14, through openings 26-27, and into dispenser 13, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2. A line-up projection 31 molded into base .10, with corresponding co-acting notch 32 on the edge of dispenser body 13, enable lining-up of the two so that the valves in the dispenser are lined up with openings 26-27 of plate 25.

It is understood that, although the dispenser mentioned here as an example is similar to that shown in the Woroble Patent 3,080,095, the invention is not limited to this type, and any type of dispenser may be employed, as desired.

When in use, the unit is operated as follows:

The side 21 of the cardboard container is pierced with prong 17, and the dispenser is rotated, with prong 17 as the pivot, using sufficient pressure so that wheel 23 will perforate a circle in the cardboard wall. Thereafter, a neck 14 is pushed into the perforated area, whereupon the hole in the container is formed, and end 19 of neck 14 enters the hole. Then, the dispenser is turned, while being held by base surface 12', until the base is threaded snugly and tightly therein, with ridge shoulder 16 abutting the container wall, as in FIG. 3.

Thereafter, when it is desired to fill dispenser 13, control rod 29 is rotated so that gate valves 33 uncover openings 26-27 in stationary plate 25. This permits powder to flow from the container into the dispenser along a line of flow indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. Thereafter, rod 29 is turned to close openings 26-27 by covering them with flat valves 33. This similarly uncovers the similar openings (not shown) in the opposite (discharge) end of the dispenser, so as to make it possible to discharge the measured amount of powder from the dispenser into a wash tub or other receptacle.

It will be observed that the entire base can be made of plastic (except for the cutting wheel), so that it is possible to mold the entire unit, including the prong, in one operation.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the use of a small measuring dispenser 11', such as the one shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 14 of the Woroble Patent 3,277,989, connected to a collar base 12 of the present invention, and as mounted on a swiveling wall bracket 40. Since the unit, in this case, is attached onto a thin metal screw cap .13" of a jar 13', hollow neck 10' is provided with a straight outer thread 18. A bevel 22 likewise connects threads 18 with fiat col lar base surface 15 of base plate 12, which surface may be provided with looking ridges, if desired. A straight unthreaded short portion 19 serves as a terminus for the neck and facilitates insertion thereof into can 13" up to the threaded portion. The thin walled metal top 13" of container 13' (which latter may contain hand cleansing powder, for example) may be provided with a tear strip designed to tear an open round hole into which neck end 19 can fit snugly.

Flat base 12' is attached, by rivets or screws 50, to one end of vertical arm 41 of bracket 40. The other end of arm 41 is pivoted at 42 to the upper end of arm 43 which is disposed in parallel relation with arm 41. The latter arm may be fastened to a wall 44 by means of screws 45.

It is desirable to provide locking means for locking 'arms 41 and 43 when the unit is in dispensing position so as to avoid undesirable lateral movement of the unit during the dispensing operation. An example of such locking means is illustrated by slide 51 which may be a channel member attached onto arm 41 in sliding relation therewith. Channel 51 has projecting ends 52 and 53 which project from the sides 54 of channel 5-1. Ends 52 and 53 are designed to extend over the sides of arm 43, when arms 41 and 43 are in overlapped position, so as to lock together arms 43 and 41 when slide 51 is slid on arm 41 into locking position, as in FIGS. 5 and 7. When slide 51 is slid back, arm 41 may be swiveled around pivot 42, as in FIG. 6, when it is desired to attach container 13 onto neck 10'.

When the container 13' of cleansing powder, for example, is to be attached to the unit, arm 41 is swiveled into upright position, as in FIG. 6, so that can top 13 having a circular hole may be inserted over tip 19 of the base and screwed onto straight threads 18, until the can lid or top is in good tight sealing contact with the metal surface of top 13". Thereafter, arm 41 is swiveled to its lower position for dispensing use. When powder is needed, control rod 46 is turned, so that the measuring chamber between the valves in dispenser 11 is discharged through outlet 47. The valve arrangement, in eifect, is a small version of the one in dispenser 13.

This type of dispenser, attached to a common glass jar provided with a screw-on metal cap (having a tear strip for making the required size hole), and filled with powdered soap or hand-cleansing powder, has been found to be very useful in private wash rooms, garages, summer camps, military barracks, mobile units, and the like. A nut 60 may be screwed on threads 18 and against the underside of the top of metal cover 13" to insure that cover 13 stays in place even if the cover slips loosely over threads 18 when it is inserted for mounting.

I claim:

1. A container-engaging end for powder dispensers, of the type described, comprising:

a base designed to hold a powder dispenser body therea hollow generally cylindrical and narrower neck projecting from said base away from the body-holding portion,

a fiat shoulder disposed on said base and abutting the junction thereof with said neck,

hole-making means mounted on said neck and designed to make a hole in a container, into which said neck may be tightly inserted,

an axially-tapered thread disposed on said neck at least on the portion adjacent said shoulder, and designed to enable the screwing on of said base onto a container in tight fitting relation therewith,

a vertically-directed first arm attached at its one end to said base,

a second vertical1y-directed arm pivoted at its one end to the other end of said first arm in a manner so that said base may be swung upwardly into upsidedown position, and

fastening means on said second arm designed to fasten said latter arm to a wall, and comprising a slide plate attached to said first arm, in sliding relation therewith, said plate having projecting side ends designed to overlap at least a portion of the sides of said second arm, when said arms are in overlapped position, whereby both arms are locked together.

2. A container-engaging end for powder dispensers, of

the type described, comprising:

a base designed to hold a powder dispenser body thereon,

a hollow generally cylindrical and narrower neck projecting from said base away from the body-holding portion,

a flat shoulder disposed on said base and abutting the junction thereof with said neck,

hole-making means comprising a piercing prong projecting axially from said neck, and an oppositelymounted cutting wheel, a portion of which also projects beyond said neck, and designed to make a hole in a container, into which said neck may be tightly inserted, and

an axially-tapered thread disposed on said neck at least on the portion adjacent said shoulder, and designed to enable the screwing on of said base onto a container in tight fitting relation therewith.

3. A container-engaging end for powder dispensers, of

the type described, comprising:

a base designed to hold a powder dispenser body thereon,

a hollow generally cylindrical and narrower neck projecting from said base away from the body-holding portion,

a flat shoulder disposed on said base and abutting the junction thereof with said neck,

hole-making means mounted on said neck and designed to make a hole in a container, into which said neck may be tightly inserted,

an axially-tapered thread disposed on said neck at least on the portion adjacent said shoulder, and designed to enable the screwing on of said *base onto a container in tight fitting relation therewith, and

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,950 12/1925 Hughes 222-91 2,003,562 6/1935 Stuart 22291 X 2,240,296 4/1941 Hannum et al. 22291 X 2,978,146 4/1961 Packwood 222165 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

H. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R, 

